We crossed Thunderbarrow Hill, past the site of the Thunder Barrow and a Settlement marked on the map, but not visible from the path.

Gorse Fox commented "I wonder if we'll complete the walk without getting caught by the rain"

As he said it, James said "What was that?"

He had felt the first few drops of rain. We stopped and put on jackets, but nothing really came of the rain.

They marched on, and GF started identifying the steps that the opposition party should take if they actually wish to become a government. It's far too boring to relate now... but one day he'll write an entry about the steps he will take when the Gorse Fox runs the country.

James and the Gorse Fox arrived at Mile Oak Barn and Mile Oak Farm. The path seemd to differ from the planned route slightly, but after a few brief detours we found the right path and headed onwards towards Southwick.

From the top, with the aid of a zoom lense, Shoreham power station was silhouetted against the shimmering Channel.

Our route would be taking us in that direction, though not quite that far. Hearts were beating more slowly again. Breath was no longer coming in huge gulps, we were recovering from the climb... and setting south across the Downs.

Conversation ranged through the week's news. Tony Blair, David Cameron (two cheeks of the same bottom, according to George Galloway), the current inability of the Tories to mount much opposition, and the trouble that was whipped up by the media over the Pope's speech.

Having picked James up at home, he and the Gorse Fox headed to Fulking where we found a parking spot and togged up for the walk. It was warm, but overcast. A stiff breeze blew from the Channel. Rain showers were forecast, but rain gear was packed away in the rucksacks for now.

We stared up at the hill. Starting with such a steep climb seemed like a good idea when GF planned the route. But looking up at it now it didn't seem so smart.

The climb started by the pub, and we had had to stop several times on the way up. The village nestled at the bottom, and the Sussex Weald stretched out beyond. (Taking the photo could be construed as an excuse to pause for breath!).

The Gorse Fox had another walk planned, and calling yong James, agreed to share the South Downs for the afternoon.

The planned walk started at the village of Fulking (strangely, by the pub). It isn't shown on the map, here. It is deep in the lee of the Downs at the top right of the route... 500ft below the where the red line appears.

The route starts with the steep climb then circled clockwise past Adder Bottom, Cockroost Hill, Mile Oak Barn, and up over the Southwick Tunnel. Then turning back it heads back along Thunderbarrow Hill to Truliegh Hill, Edburton Hill and back down the north edge of the Downs to the car.

Via ASI, the Gorse Fox came to a speech by Senator John Inhoffe to the US Senate on Environment and Public Works.Please take the time to read this. It is an expose of the existing media hype regarding global warming, and to use phrase that relates to the subject, reveals some inconvenient truths.

As the senator says:

The more the eco-doomsayers’ predictions fail, the more the eco-doomsayers predict.

And interestingly:

The alarmists freely concede that the Kyoto Protocol, even if fully ratified and complied with, would not have any meaningful impact on global temperatures. And keep in mind that Kyoto is not even close to being complied with by many of the nations that ratified it, including 13 of the EU-15 nations that are not going to meet their emission reduction promises.

But tellingly,

French President Jacques Chirac provided the key clue as to why so many in the international community still revere the Kyoto Protocol, who in 2000 said Kyoto represents “the first component of an authentic global governance.”

Well Jacques, this wasn't the topic, but how well are you doing on the EU Constitution? Er, failed. Right, so let's start on the world instead.

He promoted the now debunked “hockey stick” temperature chart in an attempt to prove man’s overwhelming impact on the climate

He attempted to minimize the significance of Medieval Warm period and the Little Ice Age

He insisted on a link between increased hurricane activity and global warming that most sciences believe does not exist.

He asserted that today’s Arctic is experiencing unprecedented warmth while ignoring that temperatures in the 1930’s were as warm or warmer

He claimed the Antarctic was warming and losing ice but failed to note, that is only true of a small region and the vast bulk has been cooling and gaining ice.

He hyped unfounded fears that Greenland’s ice is in danger of disappearing

He erroneously claimed that ice cap on Mt. Kilimanjaro is disappearing due to global warming, even while the region cools and researchers blame the ice loss on local land-use practices

He made assertions of massive future sea level rise that is way out side of any supposed scientific “consensus” and is not supported in even the most alarmist literature.

He incorrectly implied that a Peruvian glacier's retreat is due to global warming, while ignoring the fact that the region has been cooling since the 1930s and other glaciers in South America are advancing

He blamed global warming for water loss in Africa's Lake Chad, despite NASA scientists concluding that local population and grazing factors are the more likely culprits

He inaccurately claimed polar bears are drowning in significant numbers due to melting ice when in fact they are thriving

He completely failed to inform viewers that the 48 scientists who accused President Bush of distorting science were part of a political advocacy group set up to support Democrat Presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004

Excellent read. GF commends it. GF's view, based on the balance of probabilities and historical precedent:

Is the climate changing? Of course it is. Its a dynamic system, and continually changes.

Friday, September 29, 2006

Gose Fox has commented before regreading the pleasure of wandering into the garden to select a fresh chilli from the plant and pop into the cooking. He had forgotten, however, the exquisite pain of rubbing his eye just after slicing said chilli. He sits here now with left eye closed and streaming... the memory has come flooding back!

Gorse Fox uses Google Reader as an RSS aggregator to keep track of the various blogs he likes to read. Google have released a new version over night with a new user interface. Gorse Fox likes it. It addresses many of the frustrations he had with the original version.

The Gorse Fox was considering the radio. (Strange things invade his mind as he drifts off to sleep). Why does radio become a black hole of utter tripe at 19:00? Gorse Fox is usually on the last leg of his drive home from Worcester... the 19:00 News comes on, then nothing... well nothing worth listening to:

Radio 2 - Bob Harris' Country; This should be illegal. It's bad enough that Country music exists, but to allow it to be played on public radio is a disgrace - it should be limited to consenting adults in the privacy of their own homes.

Local radio - fatuous patronising airheads doing phone-ins about the colour of people's socks, whether dogs should have bow-ties, or something... there is abviously a glut of "stupid pills" going around, and people are becoming addicted.

Radio 4 - The Archers; come on! just how sad do you think GF is? How many years has it been going? Even violent prisoners get to the end of their sentence at some point.

Radio 1; well that's beyond the pale 24 hours a day

Radio 3; fine as long as you wish to drop off to sleep - that isn't recommended whilst driving, however.

Radio 5 - Probably the only real contender (particularly when there's a football game being broadcast), but can't be heard properly because the AM signal boosts and fades in the evening.

Gorse Fox missed a call from Beloved Aunt whilst away in Worcester. She has confirmed the numbers of Canadian attendees at Urban-cub's wedding. Not as many as we had hoped, but all very welcome... and the countdown continues.

Just to add to the stree-levels we just heard that Sir Lancinglot went to check on the suits. Though ordered many weeks ago, the store has no record of the transaction. Fortunately, Urban-cub still had the receipt and faxed it through. GF would not like to be in that shop if Urban-cub has to pay a visit!

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

The hotel had obviously selected GF as their victim of the week. What with the trouble when checking-in, today he had trouble checking-out. Their computer had registered the rates incorrectly, and wouldn't accept a correction. Their back-up was also wrong. In the end GF left them to it, and told them to send the bill to his home address once they had managed to sort it out.

A pleasant evening was shared with a colleague in Tewkesbury. We went, again, to Aubergine. This small bistro on the road south, almost opposite the Abbey is such a pleasure to visit. The staff are charming and fun, and the food is both excellent and well presented. Queen Victoria presides over the proceedings with good humour and a friendly manner.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Today the Gorse Fox was at the last of a series of sessions where we have allowed vendors to clarify their understanding of the request for proposal that we have provided them, on behalf of The Agency. It is remarkable, looking back over the last week, just how much variation there was between the candidate vendors. Some were arrogant, some tried to change the process, some were enthusiastic, and some just confused. Now that the process is under way it will be interesting to see what they come up with in the next few weeks.[File under: Diary]

Monday, September 25, 2006

Gorse Fox, having started out at 5:15 this morning, was keen to get back tothe hotel. The hotel, however, seemed less keen for GF to stay. Thereservation he made in person whilst staying last week had not beenregistered. Oh yes, and they were full.

The receptionist was deeply embarassed as she had written down thereservation... and even found the booking sheet. She called the manager andtried to find space. GF thanked her, remained calm and started to thinkabout a Plan B.

They came up trumps, and GF got a room freed by an early check-out. It wasalso an upgrade. That's good customer service.

Autumn is gathering momentum. This morning's drive to Worcester started in the dark and ploughed through gentle mist as the road led the Gorse Fox towards Worcester. It was still dark as he passed through Winchester, but was getting light soon after. Here and there trees were beginning to turn, but they have yet to reach their full autumn splendour.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Sir Lancinglot explained that he had visited the greyhound track before. Whelk asked what could be expected. Straight-faced, Sir Lancinglot, said "The last race is always the best. It's the Shitzu race". Whelk looked surprised. Who'd have thought they had a race featuring massage?

Taking things very seriously (not!) the card was studied in great depth. A tote runner came to the table to take our bets. GF has never been much of a gambler, but as it was a special occasion he splashed out £1 on each of the races. The others also made secure investments of varying degrees.

GF was spectacularly unsuccessful, getting 2 winners and 10 lasts over the course of the event. Whelk was most successful with 3 winners, but she was the only one who came out on top.

As the Gorse Fox explained on Friday, it was Cousteau-cub's birthday on Friday. For the past few years she has been away in Thailand for her birthday, but this year she was home.

We asked he what she fancied doing and she suggested... lunch at the Greyhound Races.

Well GF and the Silver Vixen had never been grehound racing before and with free admission on Sunday it seemed like a good idea. We arrived as the track opened and settled in to the restaurant overlooking the track. There was the Silver Vixen, Cousteau-cub, Whelk, Sir Lancinglot, and of course, Urban-cub.

Saturday, September 23, 2006

And, significantly, it ended by a pub! It seemed hard work compared to some of the walks, and because that area has so many wooded areas the views were restricted at times.[File under: Sussex Walk, Eartham, Stane Street]

GF veered off course for a while and found himself the wrong side of a fence. This involved either retracing his steps or leaping athletically over the barbed wire fence.

He decided that, all things being equal, he would leap (superman like) over the fence. packing everything in his bags he prepared himself, took a brief run up and found that gravity can be a bit of a sod. GF's adonis-like frame failed to leave the ground. This would take a rethink.

Eventually he decided to climb the fence, and gracefully made his way to the correct side of the fence. On the right side, GF headed south across Great Down. A couple made their way towards him, making the most of the warm afternoon.